Comic Book / Heroes for Hire

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Heroes For Hire is a group of super heroes of Marvel Comics. It has been published in sporadic periods through the years. The main idea is that this Punch Clock Hero group that perform hero type services sometimes outside of the normal heroes' areas of expertise. At times even the title itself is an Informed Attribute depending on the incarnation of the group and story arc though money is always a factor.

First there was just Luke Cage, the original hero for hire, then he teamed up with Iron Fist, and the two became synonymous with the title of being Heroes for Hire. Supporting characters Misty Knight, a detective and sometimes girlfriend of Iron Fist, her partner Colleen Wing, martial arts expert would at times team up with the main two but not become official members until the 2006 series where Misty Knight officially takes over the organization. Throughout the various runs various other characters would team up/work for the organization on different missions.

The group at first was restricted to the pages of Power Man and Iron Fist but would only get its first book under the name Heroes for Hire in the 1990s when the Fantastic Four and the Avengers were killed off after the Onslaught event, it featured a rotating cast of characters and lasted for 19 issues. A third run, without Cage or Fist, but starring Misty & Colleen, took place between Civil War and World War Hulk, it came out in 2006 and lasted 15 issues. A fourth run debuted in 2010, officially lasted 12 issues although it had a one-shot Spider-Island tie in and a spin off mini series titled Villains for Hire that closed off that run.

Heroes For Hire contains examples of:

All According to Plan: The Earth's collective hive recruited humbug to fight against the alien hive that come with Hulk. He goes along with it, but eventually he betrays everyone and join the alien hive. Does our hive have a back up plan for this? No, it's better. They were counting on humbug to betray them, and be selected as the host of the alien eggs. They poisoned him, and so both humbug and the alien eggs would die.

Ambiguous Situation: In the end of the 2006 run, Shang kills Humbug. He does not say anything before, during or after that. Was it a Mercy Kill? Or was it vengeance?

Bond Villain Stupidity: A ship with a huge bomb, heading to the Statue of Liberty, and with super heroes aboard? And they are not even tied or restrained in any way? Of course that the bomb would be disabled!

Bounty Hunter: That's what they are there for mainly in the 2006 incarnation.

Contemptible Cover: Issue 13 of volume 2, a tie-in for World War Hulk is infamous for depicting Black Cat, Misty, and Colleen surrounded by tentacles, looking more like the cover to a hentai manga than a mainstream superhero book.

Curb-Stomp Battle: Shang-Chi, a Kung-Fu master, against mad scientists, a sorcerer, an android (or whatever Ruby Thursday is), a man with the body of an adult gorilla, and a killer robot that had just murdered Orka. None of them stood a chance.

Paladin does not care about anything, as long as he gets paid. Bill Foster has died in the Civil War? The dinosaur is sad for being set apart from the ape? Who cares? Paladin only looks out for Nº one: himself.

The hive queen follows Hulk and Miek in their vendetta, but she's not interested in it. She's more interested in creating a new hive on planet Earth.

Selective Obliviousness: Don't tell the kid that the evil Doombot he has found is, well, evil. He thinks it's his best friend in the world.

Shout-Out: Several panels in the fourth series depict Misty Knight's lips near the microphone that she's using to contact the current hero, evoking similar imagery from the film The Warriors when the radio host is informing other gangs of the protagonists' whereabouts.

Spiritual Successor: The 2006 run is a successor of the "Daughters of the Dragon" limited series (with only Misty Knight and Colleen Wing doing work for hire, but without using the group's name). Humbug, Orka, Otis, Ricadonna, have all appeared there as well.

Tranquil Fury: Averted. When the headmen killed Orka, Shang-Chi gave him his last rites (with the villains right there). When it was done, Otis reminded him that it was not the time for his Zen calm. Shang-Chi calmly agreed... and then all hell broke loose.

Welcome Back, Traitor: Paladin betrayed the Heroes For Hire, but still, he gives them well-paid missions and in later incarnations is one of Misty's closest agents/friends.

What Happened to the Mouse?: Invoked. The owner of some jewelry hired the heroes because criminals stole his diamonds, and he wanted them back. They investigated, and discovered that the Grim Reaper and the Man-Ape were doing this to finance a terrorist campaign, and sought to blow up a bomb at the Statue of Liberty. In a frantic battle, the Heroes for Hire foiled their plan, got rid of the bomb, stopped the ship and saved the symbol of liberty in the free world! "Wow. What a story. And my diamonds?" A few lame excuses later, the man closed his portfolio with the money that he was going to pay, and walked away.

What the Hell, Hero?: Misty Knight gave one of those to Iron Man for the death of Goliath during the Civil War.

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